Condenser



E. E. HORSTMANN.

C ONDENSR. APPLICATION FILED AUG-II. 1917.

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E. E. HORSTMANN. CONDENSER.

APPLicAnoN FILED Auml, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Iwan/Lof; [192:6 /Varsmann/ ERNST E. HORSEIVIANN, 0F LOS ANGELES, GALFORNIA.

CNDENSER.

Application lecl August il, 191.7.

To ZZ tf1/10mi?? may concern.'

Be it known that l, Ennsr E. i-lonsfriunnn, a. subject ot the Emperor of Germany, resid ing Lt Los Angeles, in the county ot Los goles and 'State oix California, have invented new and useful improvements in Condenseis, oi' which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to condensers, and more particularly to jet condensers, and the invention has for its object to provide a- 'hly elli/rient condenser which may be used with steam apparatus ot many types and forms, which will operate with a relatively small vacuum pump and which will maintain a high average vacuum in steam apparatus throughout a wide range oi working conditions. Condensers oithis general type as ordinarily constructed, are not eliicient at both maximum and niinimuin steam supply for the saine unit, usually a large condenser being uncconomical and ineiiicient in operation when handling volumes of steam considerably below' the normal supply.

:in accordance with the invention a jet condenser is provided in whichthe entering steam is preferably iirst caused to impinge upon a baille to rid the saine ot water and suth steam or the air therein is then caused to suxcessively traverse or .pass through a series ci cataracts ot condensing water preierably supplied at a point above the point of steam admission, suitable catarnet-torni ing members being arranged within the condenser body proper and over which the -oondensng water must tlow in its travel to the well in condensing action. rit the top of the main chamber of the condenser to which the condensing` water and steam are iirst admitted, an oriiice is provided and a conduit leads from such oriiice to a second rhambor or trap in which further condensing; or water extraction may take place, a series of balles being arranged in such seo ond chamber to prevent the invasion by any water oi the pipe line leading to the vacuum pump. The pump preferably employed with this apparatus is oi the dry vacuum type, as in a condenser organized in acfordance with the invention the air liberated irom the steam and condensing water is dried as thoroughly as possible before reaching the pump and the second chamber or trap is devised to extract asmuch of the moisture or water vapor suspended in the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 8, 1921.

serial no. 185,670.

air as possible, the vacuum pump being connected with an oriiice in the. top wall ot' such second chamber or trap. A further oriiice is provided in the lower wall of the second chamber or trap and the same is connected by means of pipe to the well of the condenser to which the drain pipe leading from the bottom oi the main condenser chamber likewise leads. All of the passageways in the rondenser chamber proper and the trap as well as the passageway between the same.

are oi a relatively large area as compared to the oriiice leading from the trap to the vacuum pump or the pipe line leading,` to such pump, such proportioning of parts and members providing for a relatively sluggish travel oi? steam and vapor-laden air 'through the condenser proper and the trap as compared with the more rapid movement of the air through the pipe leading to the pump. Likewise, the greater ba'liling and cooling surfaces provided by said proportioning rids the non-condensible air whi h is removed by the pump, of as much oi' the suspended water vapor therein as possible,v as well as permitting the use oi a much 'smaller vacuum pump for a condenser oit given capacity, than has hitherto been possible. its thedegrce of vacuum maintained in the condenser, and the consequent eiiiciency of the apparatus with which the condenser is connected, is dependent upon the amount of vapor suspended in the air and theamount of air in the condenser, the further ridding of the air on its way to the pump of vapor as it passes through the trap, makes i'or very high eiii iency. The condenser shown in lthe drawings is a type in which a material difference between the temperature of steam exhausted into the condenser and the temperature oi' the air and vapor discharged is great, and consequently only a small volume ot air and vapor must be removed by the pump. rEhe condensing` water entering above the point of steam entry is coldest where the air last passes through the same and hottest at the point oi" iirst Contact with the steam, thus insuring the removal of the air by the vacuum pump in the coolest possible condition.

A Jruither object of the invention is to provide a condenser of the general character stated which will be relatively simplev and inexpensive in constru'tion and organization when its high efficiency Vand adaptability to a wide range of service conditions are considered, and which will be generally superior in serviceability.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel and u seful provision, formation, combination, association and relative arrangement of parts, members and features, all as hereinafter described, shown in the drawings, and finally pointed out in claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional view, parts being shown in elevation, of a conn denser construited and organized. in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation of the showing in Fig. 1, and looking in the direction ofthe large arrow near F ig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view. taken on the line .r3-x3, Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the appended arrows;

Fig. Il is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line ait-m4, Fig. l;

Fig.. 5 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line @c5-m5, Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view talren on the line 056mm, Fig. 1.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are designated by the same reference characters.

Referring with particularity to the drawings, in the embodiment of the invention therein shown A designates a main condenser chamber, B designates a secondary chamber or trap, C designates a well, and D designates vacuum producing means.

The main condenser chamber A is formed in a casing a, which casing is shown as comprising a lower tubular member 7., an upper tubular member 8, and a closure member 9. The members 'Z' and 8 are preferably joined together by means of flanges la and 8au and the closure 9 is applied to a flange 8b at the upper portion of the member y8, an outlet orilice 9"L being provided in the closure 9 and through which orifife a passageway 10 formed in a pipe elbow 11 communicates with the interior of the chamber A. In the upper tubular member 8 a cylindrical membery 12 is positioned preferably concentri cally with the tubular member 8 and such member 12 is joined by a lateral flange 12n at its bottom portion to the lowermost portion of the interior wall of the member 8, thusr forming an annular water space 13 between the tubular member 8 and the cylindrical member l2. rlhe cylindrical member 12 hasgits upper end formed with an inwardly directed flange 12b the upper surface of which flange 12b is downwardly and in wardly inclined to provide for the proper disharge of a circular sheet of water into the space provided internally of the cylindrical member 12 as such water overflows from'the space 18. Just above the point of Vjunction of the lateral flange 12at with the inner surface of the member 8 a water inlet orifice 14 is provided in the wall of the member 8, and a water inlet pipe 15 is connetted with the member 8 at such orifice as at 15a. The tubular member 7 which is joined to the lower end of the member 8 is preferably of equal diameter therewith at its upper end, but is gradually reduced in diameter at its lower end as at 7b producing a conical formation, an outlet orifice 7? being provided at the extreme end of the conica formation where a discharge pipe 16 is connected to the member Y as at 16a by means of suitable flanges. A. hollow laterally projecting boss 17 is provided on the member 7 between its ends, and such boss is bored as at 17a to receive a baffle member 18, which baffle member is the terminus of the steam admission pipe. 'l` he baille member 18 preferably consists of a short length or elbow of pipe flanged at its outer end as at 18P- to provide means whereby the same can be secured to a flange 19 provided on the hollow boss 17. The elbow 18 is cut away at its downwardly directed discharge end to prodiire preferably the formation shown in Fig. 1 as at 181 and at the flange 18a siichelbow has applied thereto a flange 20a of the steam exhaust pipe 20. All of the joints as between the members 7, 8, 9, and between such members and the respective pipes secured thereto may be made as by passing bolts through suitable orifices in the respective flanges: ln the upper zone in the member 7 a conical member 21 is positioned by means of a plurality of arms or rods 21a whereby tie cone may be suspended from the member 8 and immediately beneath and concentrically with the cylindrical member' 12. 1n a further zone immediately below the conical member 21 a conical inwardly directed annular flange 22 springs from the `wall of the member 7 such annular inwardly directed flange being so interposed between the cone and the elbow 18. The discharge pipe 1G enters the well C which may be formed according to standard pra/tice. as will be well understood by those skilled in the art, where such pipe terminates as at 1Gb at a slight distance above the bottom of the well C, the pipe being secured in' a suitable support 16c provided in the well.

The secondary chamber or trap B preferably comprises a cylindrical shell 23 having a bottom closure 2d and a top closure 25. ln the interior of the shell 28 a partition 2 a is formed and such partition divides the shell into two longitudinally ranging divisions or passages o and Zi the partition 28a being curved to meet the wall of the shell just above an orifice 28b provided in the shell and ranging downwardly therefrom to a point near the closurev 24 as at 23C, thus providing a downwardly directed passage for the vapor-laden air to be drawn from lOO llfl

the condenser by the pump. The bottom closure 211 has a discharge port 24a provided therein and a drain pipe 26 is connected to such closure as at 2T and in registration with the aperture 2th The lower end ofthe drain pipe is positioned in the well C at 28. 1n the longitudinal passage baffles 29 are provided, such ballies 29 extending preferably alternately, one from one side of the passage and the next succeeding` bal'le from the other side of the passage to provide a toltuous. passageway for the vapor-laden air on its way to the pump, the under surfaces of the battles 29 serving to catch water in the air and the upper surfaces of the battles serving,` as guides to return water caught by higher ballies and discharged therein toward the drain pipe 26. rthe upper closure 25 of the trap B is apertured as at 25a, the elbow 30 of pipe 31 being` connected with the closure 25 at the orifice 25a and in registration therewith. At its end opposite the connection with trap B the pipe 81 is connected to a vacuum pump 82 comprising` the means l), as at 31a. The pipe 31 is relatively small, that is, its internal diameter and consequently the cross-sectional area of the pas sageway therein is much smaller than the ciosssectio1ial area of any part of the condenser proper, the pipe 11, or the passageways 5 and in the trap B. The pipe 11 is connected with the shell 23 at the orifice 23a therein.

rl`he vacuum producing means D is conventionally shown as a pump of the high vacuum type and such pump may be of any preferred form, the improved condenser per mitting the use of a small pump with a relatively large condenser. The cylinder of the pump .32,is shown at 32a, the piston rod at 32", and the discharge pipe at 32. lt will be understood that the pump may be actuated by any prime mover or other source of energy or power.

The operation, method of use and advantages of the improved condenser will be readily understood from the foregoing descrip tion, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the following statement:

rlhe condenser being connected with the exhaust of steam apparatus, such as a steam engine, evaporating' pans, or any other apparatus with which it is desirable to use a condenser, as by connecting such apparatus with the pipe 20, the steam from the steam apparatus will be exhausted into the condenser through the elbow 18, and will be condensed therein as will presently be desc"ibed. The pipe 15 is connected with any suitable source of supply of cold condensing water, which condensing water enters the chamber [t through the orilice 14 and filling the annular space 13 between the cylindrical member 12 and the wall of the member 8, overflowing` into the member 12 over the inclined upper edge 12b thereof and forming a cataract or circular sheet of falling water which impinges on the upper surface of the cone 21, which surface is suitably angled to again discharge the water in a further circular sheet and over the edge of the cone, thus forming a second cataract, which second cataract terminates at the annular inclined ledge 22 formed in the member 7, which ledge 22 suitably angled with respect to the inclination of the surface of the cone to properly receive the second cataract and discharge the same through the central orifice 22n formed by the ledge 22, the angular relation of the inclination at 12b and the inclination of the cone surface, and the angular relation of the ledge 22 and the cone surface is preferably so proportioned that even with very little water flowing over the inclination 12b the cone will not be missed by such water and the water die-- charged by such cone cannot miss the ledge 22 from which it is discharged, against the elbow 18 and from which elbow it is discharged a further cataract. rlfhe water finally passes out through the discharge tubel 16 into the well C. Upon movement of the piston of the pump the entrapped or im pounded air in the condenser will he with-y drawn therefrom and the air contained in the entering steam and the condensingwater will be put under a tension and withdrawn by the pump, producing a partial vacuum in the condenser, the water in well C rising in the pi 3e 16 and in the drain pipe 26 to a height corresponding to the degree of vacuum maintained, and the steam entering the pipe 2O will impinge on the water flowing through the condenser chamber A. and be thereby condensed, the water of condensation passing out tirough the pipe 16with the condensing water. Air contained in the steam or in the condenser will be drawn out by the vacuum pump through the pipe 11, throup'h the passageway b in the trap, around the lower end of the partition 23m, through the tortuous passageway b', and through the relatively small pipe 31 to the pump where the same is exhausted. During its travel to the pump such air will have to pass through the succeeding` cataracts of condensing' water encountered as it rises through the chamber A, counter to the direction of water flow, and such air will be reduced in temperature and give up much of its vapor, after which it is drawn through the pipe 11 into the trap B whereupon striking and rounding the partition 23a still further vapor is condensed and deposited upon the partition23a after which in successively impinging upon the baffles interposed in its path in the passageway b further water will be extracted therefrom by such bali'les and the internal surfaces of the llO passageway, after `Which the relatively dry a' is inducted into the pump 32 through the pipe 3l. is the pipe 3l is of small internal area as compared to the other passageways in the condensing apparatus, the movement oic the air or other elastic medinrnL beingl Withdrawn froni the condenser by the pump will be relatively sluggish in the condenser chamber B and the trap B, diie to the small pipe 3l Where such air or other elastic inedium is speeded up by the puinp as it is Withdrawn, this sluggish inoveinent or relatively long dwelling in the condenser charnber n and the trap B insuring the precipitation or deposition on surfaces oi' most or the Water vapor which would otherwise find its Way to the dry vacuum pinnp and conse quently interfere with the efficiency oi the pump as Well as the economy oi the condensing system, as hereinabove pointed out.

Having thus disclosed rey invention, l

claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:V

l. ln a condenser, he combination With a main condensing chamber, or" a U-shaped trap having a cross sectional area less than that of the main condensing chamber, a pipe leading from the main condensing chamber to one arni or the trap having a cross sectional area less than that of the trap, suction pipe leading to the otner arn of the trap and having a cross sectional area corn siderably less than that of the iirst inentioned pipe, a drain leading from the trap, and batlles in the trap.

2. ln av condenser, the combination With a main condensing chamber, a vertically disposed Ushaped trap arranged at one side of the condensing chamber and having a smaller cross sectional area than the main leerme condensing chamber, a pipe leading from the top of the main condensing chamber to one arm of the trap and having a cross sectional area less than that of the trap, a suction pipe leading from the opposite arm o the trap and having a cross sectional area considerably less than that of the first rnenn tioned pipe, a series oi" staggered bailies arranged in the second mentioned arm of the trap and inclined downwardly in opposite directions from the sides thereoil to provide a tortuous passage and facilitate the accu inulation or condensed iiuid at the bottoni of the trap, and a drain pipe leading from the bottoni of the trap.

In a condenser, the combination with inain condensing` chamber, of a shaped trap of which one arrn has a cross sectional area less than the other arin, a pipe leading from the main condensing chamber to that arm of the trap having the larger cross sec tional area, said pipe having a cross sectional'area less than that of either arin oi' the trap, a suction pipe leading from tne trap arm having the sinalier cross section and having a cross section considerably less than that of the iirst mentioned pipe, a series of staggered bai'lies arranged in the arm of the Vtrap having the smaller cross section, and a drain pipe leading troni the bottom or" the trap. y

ln testimony whereof, i have signed my naine to this specification in the presence oi two subscribing' Witnesses.

ERNST E. HOBSTMANN lflfitnesses:

Barrio/Nn lvns BLAnnsLnn, EDNA TURNER. 

